What Makes a Home Great?
What Makes a Home Great?
Photo by David McBee from Pexels
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Your home search has ended and you sign a contract for “the dream home”.
Photo by David McBee from Pexels
Within a few days, you discover the dream becomes “the teenage home” with all sorts of blemishes you didn’t see.
First, don’t blame the Realtor®
Some of the ugly blemishes that pop up during the inspection period can be avoided.
For example, if school ratings and crime statistics are really important to you- do the research before you begin house hunting. Or at the very latest before you write a contract. Realtors® can only provide you with resources which include links to school district sites and phone number of police or sheriff.
It’s up to you to do the research and decide what works for your needs.
Some things to look at before making a decision to buy:
Market Report
Your agent can provide detailed information about the subdivision and area you are considering. Data from the Multiple Listing Service of Greater Cincinnati provides an in-depth look at the time on the market, list to sale price ratios, number of sales and types of homes in high demand.
MLS data cannot predict the future. Today’s hot area may be stale in 2 years. Nobody has a crystal ball. But looking at the numbers for the current market should help you decide the asking price is realistic. Sometimes the high number of sales in an area turns buyers off because they want neighbors who stay around. The information from the MLS can help prospective buyers understand what’s happening.
School District
Most buyers want the best school district for their families. The question then becomes what’s best? New to Greater Cincinnati- the following links may be helpful:
There is no “perfect” school district. Buyers need to decide for themselves which one provides the best results for their children. Yes, school district ratings and perceptions can impact real estate prices and buyers need to weigh school ratings and rankings versus your real estate needs.
Crime Statistics
Schools are very important to some buyers while crime statistics are a hot button for others. To the best of my knowledge, the best way is to contact the local Police or Sheriff’s Office serving your area to get the real facts. The State of Ohio offers a site to search for sex offenders and other registered criminals. CrimeReports is an interesting site but personally, I don’t know about the accuracy or timeliness of the data.
What makes a home great is when the buyers do their homework on crime stats and schools and their agent has provided comprehensive MLS data.
Making an informed decision makes buying a home a lot less stressful for everybody!
